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The Temple of Isis was originally founded as a lyceum within the Fellowship of Isis.
Eventually the TOI gained legal recognition in order to facilitate the scope of work taken on by it's founder, Loreon Vigne.
Loreon is an ArchPriestess and Hierophant within the Fellowship of Isis. The Temple of Isis now serves
as the legal branch of the Fellowship of Isis.
The Temple of Isis
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| Rt. Rev. Loreon Vigne, founder of the Temple of Isis, at Isis Oasis in Geyserville, California |
"One of our biggest steps was obtaining legal status for our Isis Priesthood by the Rt. Rev.
Loreon Vigne of the Temple of Isis in California." - Lady Olivia Robertson, ArchPriestess
and FOI co-founder
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| Entering the grounds of Isis Oasis |
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| Anubis guards the grounds of Isis Oasis |
The blue Isis letters, the beautiful Isis Chapel and Anubis guarding the entrance to the main area, are the three
features one immediately encounters entering the grounds of Isis Oasis. One of the first things many Temple
of Isis members do is visit the Isis Chapel and offer devotions. The beautiful presence of Isis is strongly felt within.
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| A view of the entry way to the Isis Chapel |
The Temple of Isis was founded by Rt. Rev. Loreon Vigne on the grounds of Isis Oasis Sanctuary in Geyserville,
California. The Temple of Isis is a non-profit spiritual organization whose purpose is to create harmony and balance on earth.
Loreon is a long time member of the Fellowship of Isis and is an ArchPriestess within the FOI. She hostesses an annual Convocation
for the Fellowship of Isis, featuring Lady Olivia Robertson, FOI co-founder, as a key speaker at Isis Oasis in October.
Loreon Vigne founded Isis Oasis Sanctuary, the home of the Temple of Isis, originally
known as Isis Oasis Retreat Center, in 1978. The property of Isis Oasis Retreat Center was recently bequeathed to the
Temple of Isis and is now renamed Isis Oasis Sanctuary. The Temple of Isis conducts spiritually oriented programs at Isis
Oasis, which include workshops, retreats, weddings, as well as the annual FOI gathering in October.
Loreon is the founder of a non-profit educational organization, the Isis Society
for Inspirational Studies, which presents cultural events at the Isis Oasis Sanctuary. Once this same property was a Pomo
Indian ceremonial ground, later a Bahai’ School whose principle philosophy is global unity, now it is a sanctuary
that provides an extraordinary environment for body, mind and spirit on ten acres of land in the heart of the wine country
north of San Francisco.
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| Loreon and Leema under the Great Tree where ordination ceremonies are held |
Loreon Vigne and Le'ema Graham spending a few moments together under the 500 year old fir tree.
This tree was held sacred by local Native Americans. Today this ancient and mystical tree is the site
for ordinations and dedication ceremonies. Many report feeling a deep sense of peace after a few moments of contemplation
under it's dense and spreading branches.
The fir tree has been a symbol of life since ancient times because it is evergreen. The Celts associated the
fir tree with ancient mysteries of renewal, rebirth and initiation.
Trees have long served as symbols of deity, magic and mystery in many cultures throughout the world.
In ancient Egypt, the goddess Bastet had associations with the persea tree, the sycamore was corresponded to Hathor, the palm
tree with the goddesses Isis and Seshat. The goddess Inanna of Sumeria also had a connection with the palm tree, calling herself
"the one who makes dates abundant." In northern Europe the goddesses Freya, Idunna and Frigga had associations with
the birch.
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| The Dining Pavillion at Isis Oasis |
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| A tree near the Isis Chapel becomes a shrine |
During the annual Convocation for the Fellowship of Isis and the Temple of Isis, those attending will have some free
time to explore the grounds of the sanctuary. One can come across such things as a lovely niche in the bole of
a tree turned into a shrine, a pond with swans, a pool of water lilies, stained glass windows, many trees and plants.
The beauty of the surroundings are complemented by a loving, spiritual energy.
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| Procession from the Isis Chapel |
Loreon has written of Isis Oasis in her autobiography "The Goddess Bade Me Do It": “At
Isis Oasis we create a world of our own within the world that exists outside. We surround ourselves with other creatures of
Nature, with art and beauty, and with the conviction that what we have created here must be shared freely with others.”
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| Horus themed stained glass window above the altar of the Isis Chapel |
Many of the art pieces, paintings, enamels and stained glass that are enjoyed by visitors and guests have
been made by Loreon, who is an accomplished artist.
Her love of all that makes life enjoyable, beautiful and gracious, combined with her wonderful artist's eye, have made
the grounds and buildings of Isis Oasis Sanctuary a visual delight.
Loreon believes strongly in the concept of surrounding oneself with beauty and creative expression. In so doing the devotee
of the Goddess is constantly uplifted and reminded to maintain beauty of spirit and a flowing of creative manifestation in
every day life.
At the same time members of the Temple of Isis recognize the peril to themselves and to the Earth as mankind continues
to inflict destruction and pollution upon it. The aim of the Temple of Isis is to create a new legacy for our children and
our children's children, by teaching others to preserve and conserve the Earth and to free people from prejudice and ignorance.
Another passage from Loreon's autobiography states: “Although I didn’t realize it at the time, Isis, the
ancient Egyptian Goddess of Nature, became my mentor, and perhaps even my mother, at the tender age of six. It was She who
later prompted me to create Isis Oasis and to develop and expand it for twenty-five years. In Her honor I continue to do Her
work. I believe the name and spirit of the Goddess Isis must be kept alive in this modern world.”
| On the grounds are many beautiful natural features |
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| This 500 year old Fir Tree has been held sacred for many generations |
Loreon has worked for many years to bring to the forefront of human awareness the reverence for Nature personified by the
Goddess Isis. The ownership and creation of Isis Oasis Sanctuary has been an important part of Loreon’s life’s
work.
She has created a legacy for future generations, by creating not only a modern day sanctuary but a modern day Goddess based
church. She came to believe in a destiny of bringing the Temple of Isis back into the world as a functioning, living temple
in which devotions are performed daily. She has strived to bring about a return of the Divine Feminine into human consciousness
combined with an expansion of freedom of thought and conscience, free of dogma. She writes: “I coined the word “catma”
to express the qualities of the Temple of Isis. A cat is independent and balanced, loving and gentle.”
The Temple of Isis is a legal Church dedicated to the Goddess Isis. It is federally recognized in the USA and registered
in California, where priestesses and priests ordained into the Temple of Isis are legally authorized to minister the rites
of passage, including marriages, namings and funerals.
In honoring Isis, Mother of All, TOI members reverence the Earth. They are committed to honoring the Earth and everything
that lives upon it. They hold the Earth and all forms of life as sacred expressions of a divine creation.
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| Stained glass windows in the doors of the Main Temple |
The Temple of Isis follows the positive and benign principles of the renowned international Fellowship of Isis, out of
which the legal Church, the Temple of Isis, was born. The Temple of Isis is called by FOI co-founder Olivia Robertson "the
legal branch of the Fellowship of Isis."
All members of the Fellowship of Isis who need legal certification for their work for the Goddess are welcome to contact
the Temple of Isis at Isis Oasis Sanctuary.
Olivia writes: “Isis Oasis was the first open Isian Temple and compound dedicated
to Isis for 1500 years! Let us all help with this great undertaking of Rt. Rev. Loreon. She has created the best
sort of retreat and temple - encouraging healing of the earth and our selves through spirituality and creativity!”
For more information about the Temple of Isis please click on the links below:
Temple of Isis Archives
Contact information for the Temple of Isis: The Temple of
Isis
Isis Oasis Sanctuary
20889 Geyserville Avenue
Geyserville, CA 95441
USA
Telephone: 707-857-4747 or 1-800-679-7387
Fax: 707-857-3544
E-mail: isis@isisoasis.org
Temple of Isis website: http://www.isisoasis.org/temp1/index.htm
Isis Oasis Sanctuary website: http://www.isisoasis.org/
Heartfelt thanks to FOI co-founder Rt. Rev. Olivia Robertson for her unwavering support.
Photos of blue Isis sign, Anubis as guardian, Isis Chapel entry way, Tree niche shrine, Stained glass windows
of Temple courtesy of Kasey Conder. All other photos provided courtesy of Barbara Lee Westlake. All photos are copyrighted.
All rights reserved.
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May Isis richly bless all who visit this site.
This central Fellowship of Isis website is officially authorized and chartered by Fellowship of Isis
co-founder Lady Olivia Robertson, AU, FOI Foundation Centre, Clonegal Castle, Enniscorthy, Ireland
Copyright © 2004-2008 The Circle of Isis
Notice of Copyright and Disclaimer of the Circle of Isis Website Contents:
The Circle of Isis website is an officially sanctioned central global website of the Fellowship of Isis, authorized
by Lady Olivia Robertson, AU, co-founder of the Fellowship of Isis, Foundation Centre, Clonegal Castle, Enniscorthy, Ireland.
The contents of the Circle of Isis Website are not public domain. All contents published under the
name The Circle of Isis on this website are copyrighted. The URL (www.thecircleofisis.com) is copyrighted. Direct
links to these webpages are permitted. Copying the appearance, content or format of these pages is not permitted. All rights
reserved.
Notice of Copyright of the Fellowship of Isis Liturgy: Fellowship of Isis Liturgy copyright is legally shared by
the author, Lady Olivia Robertson, AU, FOI co-founder, with members of the Circle of Isis Advisory Board. Those
members are Rt. Rev. Loreon Vigne, Rt. Rev. deTraci Regula, ArchDrs. Linda Iles and Rt. Rev. Caroline Wise. The content and
format of the Fellowship of Isis Liturgy presented on the Circle of Isis website are not public domain. The content and
format are protected by a separate copyright. Lady Olivia Robertson, AU, FOI co-founder, personally upholds our copyright.
Private or public distribution, private or public reproduction, private or public publication in
any form, by any means, of the FOI Liturgy as presented on the Circle of Isis website, is not permitted. Direct links
to the FOI Liturgy pages on the Circle of Isis website are allowed, printing a copy for private ritual use is allowed.
All other rights reserved.
"Circle of Isis" line drawing by Lady Olivia Robertson. Used by permission of the artist. All rights reserved.
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